Almost two thirds of Australia's 1.5 million recent migrants and temporary residents were employed in 2013, according to figures released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

ABS Director of Culture, Recreation and Migrant Statistics, Andrew Middleton, said the 2013 Characteristics of Recent Migrants Survey collected information about migrants who have come to Australia over the past 10 years and how they have fared after their arrival.

"About 11 per cent of recent migrants who have had a job in Australia had their first job arranged before their arrival. Another 43 per cent spent three months or less looking for their first job,” Mr Middleton said.

Just over one third (34 per cent) of recent migrants experienced difficulty finding their first job, with the most common reason being a lack of Australian work experience or references (61 per cent), followed by language difficulties (33 per cent).

Around 43 per cent of recent migrants who have had a job since arrival received some form of help to find their job. The most common form of help was friends or family (70 per cent), followed by help from Centrelink or an employment services provider (20 per cent).

An estimated 62 per cent of recent migrants had obtained a non-school qualification before arrival in Australia. Of these, 72 per cent had obtained a Bachelor Degree or higher. Additionally, almost one third (30 per cent) of recent migrants had obtained a non-school qualification since arrival in Australia.

Mr Middleton said, "Since 2004, about 1.7 million people aged 15 years and older on arrival have entered Australia - equivalent to 9.5 per cent of Australia's population aged 15 years and older."

Further information can be found in Characteristics of Recent Migrants, November 2013 (cat. no. 6250.0) available for free download from the ABS website (www.abs.gov.au).

Media notes:

Recent migrants are defined as people who were born overseas, arrived in Australia after 2003, were aged 15 years and over on arrival, were not an Australian or New Zealand citizen on arrival, do not currently hold New Zealand citizenship and have permanent Australian resident status by holding a permanent visa or having gained Australian citizenship.

Temporary residents are defined as people who were born overseas, arrived in Australia after 2003, were aged 15 years and over on arrival, were not an Australian or New Zealand citizen on arrival, do not currently hold New Zealand citizenship, do not have permanent Australian resident status and are planning to stay in Australia for 12 months or more.

When reporting ABS data, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) must be attributed as the source.

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